Are Mold, Dust, and Pet Dander Flaring Up Your Allergies?

If you’re typical, you spend 90% of your life indoors (really!), where mold, dust mites, and pet dander can turn your home into a haunted house. The result: wheezy, sneezy, eye-itching allergies. To eliminate allergies, it’s important to get clues to what’s causing them. Allergy tests, such as a scratch test or a RAST (radioallergosorbent) blood test, will identify what you are allergic to, but you can probably figure it out if you keep an allergy symptoms diary. A runny nose when you awaken? It's most likely due to stuff on the mattress or pillow. It's worse after cleaning up after the cat? The cat’s probably the source.

Once you've identified the culprit, it’s time for a whole-house survey to find and banish it. Here are some common offenders:

Mold: It thrives in house plants, basements, drywall, bathrooms, and kitchens. Bleach solves minor problems, but big problems call for experts to do the job. Indoor humidity shouldn’t go above 50%. We believe in dehumidifiers, but clean frequently with bleach so they’re not a source.

Dust: Beware of vacuum cleaners and heating/cooling vents that spew particles into the air.

Dust mites: Use dust-mite proof bedding to keep the little critters' poop (that’s what does it!) from contaminating pillows and mattresses.

Pets: Some folks need to pass on pets but, before you do, first try to keep them out of your bedroom. Bathe frequently (you and your pet), cover pillows and mattresses with dust-mite-proof cases, and try HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters.